Cartridge case containing propelling rocket igniting charge and rocket projectile



July 7, 1953 w. RaNAsjs- 2,644,364

CARTRIDGE CASE CONTAINING'FROPELLINGROC1ET s' IGNITING CHARGE 50cm-museum Filed uay24. 1s50- y Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STA NT OFFICE CARTRIDGE CASE CONTAINING PROPEL- LNG RGCKET IGNITING CHARGE AND ROCKET PROJECTILE Application May 24, 1950, Serial No. 164,020

(ci. ssi-1.7) l

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

sec. 266) Claims.

This invention relates to complete round arnmunition and more particularly to a rocket propelled projectile housed in a cartridge case containing a charge for initially propelling the projectile and subsequently igniting the rocket motor of said projectile.

It is an object of this invention to provide a complete round of rocket ammunition wherein the igniting vcharge for the rocket and initial propelling charge for the rocket projectile are completely housed in the cartridge case.

Another object of the invention is a complete round of ammunition wherein the propelling rocket igniting charge and rocket projectile are completely housed within a cartridge which is adapted to be utilized as the chamber of the barrel of an automatic rocket launcher.

The specific nature of the invention as Well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through the receiver and rear of the barrel of the auto matic rocket launcher, with certain parts omitted, showing the cartridge case which contains the propellant and igniter charge and also the rocket projectile, in rammed position forming the chamber of the barrel of an automatic rocket launcher.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cartridge case showing the arrangement of the rocket propellant and igniter charge and the rocket projectile in the case.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference there is shown particularly in Figure 1 the receiver l of an automatic rocket launcher supporting a bolt and extractor mechanism within a housing 2 and in its forward end the rear end of a riiled barrel 3. Reference numerals t and 5, and 4a and 5a indicate spaced rail members in the upper and lower inside surfaces of the receiver, respectively. The cartridge case E is slidably received by said rails as it is fed by a feed mechanism, not shown, to the ramming position. The forward portion 1 of the cartridge case is of greater inside and outside diameters than that of the intermediate portion E to form a band. An interior annular shelf 9 is formed by the juncture of the intermediate and forward portions of the cartridge case. The open end of the case is extericrly provided with a tapered edge iii for forming a gas tight seal with a beveled mating surf-ace i l in the opening of the barrel 3 when the case is in rammed position. The case adjacent its base end has formed integral therewith a band l2. The aforementioned bands constitute bearing surfaces which are in Contact with the rails as the round is fed to ramming position. The base comprises a threaded closure plug i3 having a primer i4 centrally positioned therein. A propelling charge l5 is positioned in the case at the base end in intimate contact with the primer and the rocket motor i6 of the projectile 2 l. The propelling charge when ignited by Vthe primer propels the rocket projectile through the barrel .and subsequently ignites the rocket motor. The War head il of the rocket projectile is contained entirelywithin the cartridge case, permitting the case to be used as a chamber for the barrel of the automatic rocket launcher and thereby eliminating costly chamber and breech mechanisms. It is common practice in the case of fixed ammunition to retain the projectile in the cartridge case neck by either a press lit or by crimping. Unfortunately neither of the methods lends itself to the ammunition of this invention thus dictating that another method be employed. The retention of the rocket projectile within the cartridge case need only be sucient to withstand the forces incident to normal handling and loading. The projectile is relcasably maintained in the case by a cement bond 20 between the rotating band I9 and annular shelf 9 and the interior surface of the forward portion T as shown in Figure 2. The separation of the cemented joint occurs at pressures so low as to be considered effectually a zero starting resistance, the value assumed in the determination of the charge.

I claim:

l. A chamber foi the barrel of an automatic rocket launcher comprising a cartridge case closing vthe rear end of said barrel when in rammed position, a beveled edge on the open end of said case forming a gas seal with a beveled surface on the rear end of said barrel, two spaced bands intermediate the ends and integral with said case, a propelling charge in said case adjacent its base, a rocket projectile housed entirely within said case and in intimate contact with said charge, a rotating band on said projectile, an annular shelf formed interiorly of said case intermediate its ends and supporting said projectile, and a bond between said shelf and said rotating band, said bond releasably retaining said projectile in said case.

2. A round of ammunition comprising a hollow cylindrical body bent to form a shelf and having one end closed and the other end thereof open and tapered to engage a bevel in the barrel of a launcher, a propellent charge adjacent the said closed end of said body, a primer within said propellent charge, a rocket projectile having a motor completelyvwithin said body, a band onine periphery of said rocket projectile normally :bondedgto-,said shelf whereby ignition of the said primer explodes the said propellent charge to break the bond and force the said rocket projectile through the said barrel andv bonded to said shelf whereby ignition of said primer explodes the said propellent charge to rupturev the bond and forcethe said rocket pro-s jectile .through the said cylindrical body and barrel 1 and, ignite. the said motor.

#L A chamber for the barrel of an automatic rocket launcher comprising a `case closing the rear end of said barrel when in rammed position, a beveled edge on the open end of said case forming a gas seal with a beveled surface on the rear'end of said barrel, a propelling charge in said case adjacent its base, a primer within said propelling "charge, a rocket projectile enclosed entirely Within said Caseland in contact 4 with said charge, a rotating band embracing said projectile, an annular shelf formed interiorly of said case and a bond between said shelf and said rotating bandzsaid bond releasably retaining said projectile within said case.

5. A round of ammunition comprising a hollow cylindrical body bent to form a shelf and having one endclosed and the other end thereof open anoltaperedY to engage a bevel in the barrel of a launcher, whereby a gas tight seal is formed, a propellent charge at the said closed end of said body, aprimer within said propellent charge, a rocket projectile vcompletely Within said body, a rotating band embracing the said rocket projectile `normally,'engaging and bonded to said shelf whereby ignition of the said primer explodes the said propellent charge to rupture the bondand :forceV the said rocket projectile out of the said body and through theV said barrel.

WALTER R. NASS.

References oiteem the 'me of this patent UNITED lSTATES PATENTS VRennerV Aug. 26, 1947 

